Today is a little bitter sweet for me. And I didn’t even really realize it until I looked at my memories on my Facebook page. Here is a little back story…
About a year and half ago, I had some extra money so I decided that I wanted to buy a motorcycle. So after doing some research on what type of motorcycle I wanted, the boyfriend and I went to one of the local motorcycle shops to see what they had in stock. After sitting on a few different ones, I ended up falling in love with a 2018 Honda CRF250 Rally. She was a limited-edition black/grey colour scheme and just happened to be serial number 00001 for that edition. A rare find to say the least. Talked to the salesman a little bit, then ended up leaving to think about it without putting any money down. While we were driving home, the salesman called me up with a lower offer for the bike and said that if I did want it that he would have to take a deposit on it as it probably wouldn’t last long, being a limited-edition and number 00001. I end up giving him my credit card number over the phone so that he could take a deposit. The next day, I borrow my dads truck (as I have yet to get my motorcycle license, I don’t even have the learners for it at this point), so that we can go pick it up. So, on a rainy March day, I become the proud owner of this:
This is Girlie. Yes, that is what I named my motorcycle. Needless to say, it is a lot more creative than what I have named my car; which is Car. Anyways, so I ended up passing my written exam and then the boyfriend starts to teach me how to ride. Kind of. Although he has taught me all about archery, I cannot learn how to ride a motorcycle from him. He has been riding dirt bikes/motorcycles since he was knee-high to a grasshopper, so it is already second nature to him. Not so much for me. I don’t even know how to drive a standard vehicle, so the whole “having to shift gears” thing is completely foreign to me. After a few lessons from him, I am not enjoying riding at all, and I don’t want to really take the bike out at all. I apologize to the boyfriend, and tell him that I want to take lessons through one of the local driving schools instead. He doesn’t think that I should, but as it is my money, I’m going to do what I want with it. Fast forward to June and I have had my three days worth of lessons and they do the skills test as part of the schooling. So on day three on training, I have now completed my skills test and am able to ride motorcycle without having a supervisor, however I still cannot ride after dark. Needless to say, that rule got broken one evening when the boyfriend and I decided to go on a ride for ice cream. We left our house at about 8pm (summer time so sun doesn’t set until about 10pm), and did not make it home until almost midnight. I was able to make a just over 2 hour ride (round trip, minus the ice cream break) into a 4 hour ride. Anyways, August hits and a few days before my road test I have one last lesson to see if I have picked up any bad habits (which I haven’t). The day of my test arrives and I go to the school to pick up my loaner motorcycle (although I have Girlie insured, I am more comfortable taking the test on the schools bikes as opposed to my own) for an hour long pre-ride before heading to the DMV for my test. Part way through my test I am convinced that I have failed. I don’t recall what it is that I did that I made me think that, but I just knew for sure that I failed. Once we get back to the DMV, my tester asks me how I think I did, and I tell him that I think I failed and explain why I think that. He hands me my paperwork and except for not shoulder checking at one spot, I passed with flying colours. So, on August 23, 2018, this picture was taken:
Did you catch that date? Let me put it again, just in case you missed it. August 23, 2018. If you read that in the next hour and half, that would be today. As of today, I officially have had my motorcycle license for an entire year.
Now you’re probably wondering what this all has to do with the title of this post. I mentioned that a chapter has ended in my life. Get to the point, Lisa!
At approximately 2:30pm, I said good-bye to Girlie. I sold her to a very nice gentleman in Vancouver who promises to take very good care of her. In the year and a half that I had owned Girlie, I only put 814km on her. I had only gone on two rides this year. One with the boyfriend and one of my friends/coworkers, and a group ride I did on International Women Ride Day. I realized that I don’t enjoy riding. I am completely content on riding on the back. Driving in general is starting to lose its appeal. That is a strong statement coming from me, considering I have been known to just hop in my car and go. Heck, I almost drove to Calgary one weekend just to go visit one of my best friends. I could afford to it. Didn’t really have any clothes with me for the weather though. Seeing as my last ride was early May, it just didn’t make any sense to keep holding on to her. As much as I hate to see her go, not because I miss riding her (because I don’t) but because I no longer can say that I have her.
So in a ironic twist, I sold my motorcycle on the one year anniversary of getting my motorcycle license. Thanks Facebook for that memory.
Until next time… xo
